Blackwood will be out 3-6 weeks with a MCL sprain. The goalie was injured in the second period after allowing two goals on 18 shots at the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 3. Vitek Vanecek made 18 saves in relief in a 4-3 win.
Vanecek made 33 saves in his second straight start Tuesday when the Devils defeated the Calgary Flames 3-2.
Akira Schmid
, recalled from Utica of the American Hockey League on Saturday, served as the backup.
Blackwood played 25 games (24 starts) last season because of a recurring left heel injury. He is 4-2-0 with a 2.79 goals-against average and .880 save percentage in seven games this season. Vanecek, acquired in a trade with the Washington Capitals on July 8, is 6-1-0 with a 2.18 GAA and .915 save percentage in eight games (six starts).
New Jersey (10-3-0) has won seven straight games.
Palat will be out 8-10 weeks. The forward had groin surgery Nov. 1 and was said to be out indefinitely. He has missed the past six games and has three goals in six games.
"He's 8-10 weeks, but I think if you saw him in the gym, he would argue with that statement and look at me like I'm crazy, but that's where he's at," Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. "So, let's hope that he can put that through fruition."
Palat is in the first season of a five-year, $30 million contract ($6 million average annual value) he signed July 14 after playing his first 10 seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has 426 points (146 goals, 280 assists) in 634 games and helped the Lightning win the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021, and reach the Cup Final last season.
"Here's a guy who's won a couple of Stanley Cups and almost won a third and although he's been out for a little period of time, he was within days, back in the gym, saying to everyone else that when I get back here I'm going to be ready and be ready to make a difference and, in the meantime, other players have stepped in and he's there by their side," Ruff said. "I'm pretty sure he's giving tips and lending advice to (forward Fabian) Zetterlund and (defenseman Kevin) Bahl."
Goalie Jonathan Bernier (hip) hasn't played this season and remains on injured reserve.
"Bernier continues to progress, but he's not ready to play right now," Ruff said.
NHL.com staff writer Mike G. Morreale contributed to this report
